Union Elementary Media Center

05/19/2023

All 💯 true!

Instructors of music, library, P.E. and other specials are teachers too.

09/23/2022

🥰

Seven years ago, a fifth grader named Anushka read all my books and made it her mission to keep all the Haddix books in order in her school library. Then she was so distraught when she discovered that her school librarian had thrown out an old, battered copy of FOUND that she fished it out of the trash and taped it back together. The librarian decided that if Anushka was that devoted, she should try to figure out a way to get the book signed for Anushka. The librarian, Ann DiBella, looked up my author visit schedule for that year, and mailed the book to a librarian at a school I was visiting several counties away to get my signature.

Fast forward seven years to yesterday, when I happened to visit College Wood Elementary School in Carmel, Indiana—the school Anushka once attended, where Ann DiBella still works. And Anushka—now a high school senior—got to go back to College Wood for the day to hang out with me. Technically, Anushka was getting out of school in order to help out as a volunteer, and she was truly amazing at keeping track of all the books I was supposed to be signing for current College Wood students. But it was such a treat for me to get to hang out with *her* and hear about her life since fifth grade, and what she plans to do next. And it was a treat to listen to Anushka and her former librarian together—to hear what they had meant and still mean to each other. All three of us got a little misty-eyed at times, thinking about how important books and librarians can be to kids, and how there are so many connections between childhood reading and the adult a kid grows into. Anushka still has that battered—er, well-loved—copy of FOUND, and she still has a copy of the email Ann DiBella sent to the other librarian, both of them going above and beyond trying to do something special for one incredible kid.

I’m out on tour for my newest book, THE SECRET LETTERS, and it’s been fun telling kids about what’s shiny and new. But it’s also so great to hear stories about how the past influences the present and the future (which, now that I think about it, is part of the point of THE SECRET LETTERS….)

Anushka wants to go into politics, so when I got to re-sign her book, I added another message: “I hope I get to vote for you someday!”

08/08/2022

Did you guess the Friday Riddle?

08/05/2022

07/14/2022

Jumping on the bandwagon * Supporting our school's media center supports ALL students and staff at Union for years to come! Click NOW to browse our current wish list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1CV683G70TZO5?ref_=wl_share

05/27/2022

📖📚 JOIN ME!!! 📚📖
If you/your kids are participating in HMMPL's summer reading program, add Mrs. Lursen as a "friend" in the Beanstack app to compete against!

Friend Code is 5OLAPVM
*Click the "community" tab on the bottom right in the app*

Looking for our mobile app? To download the app, go to the App Store or Google Play.

04/09/2022

👍 MRS. LURSEN APPROVED 👍
Sometimes we just need a break from trying to entertain our kids 24/7 😊😉

01/14/2022

A little Friday humor to jump start the weekend 😁 (don't worry, this isn't an actual picture from our media center) 😉

11/13/2021

Fall Book Fair 2021 is up and ready for students to shop! I don't know who's more excited - the students or ME!?